Strawberry Smoothie

Fresh fruit flavors are always in season at Lifeway, and this Strawberries and Cream concoction is our recommendation this #SmoothieSaturday. Puree fresh strawberries, raspberries, and lemonade, then mix with a blend of maple syrup, ice, and our vanilla kefir. Each sip is cold, creamy, and just the right amount of tart and tang. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and the 12 live and active probiotic cultures in our kefir may help balance the gut microbiome. 70% of the immune system lives in the gut, which is why a balanced gut may support healthy immunity. Adorn your drink with extra strawberries if you can handle waiting a little longer before the first sip.

Your Gut Matters

Eating habits also play a role in mental health. Research has shown that probiotic-rich foods decrease anxiety and boost the mood. That makes kefir a great wellbeing tool because it contains 12 live and probiotic cultures. Psychiatrist James Greenblatt explained that “‘the gut is really your second brain. There are more neurons in the GI tract than anywhere else except the brain.’” As research continues to develop, it’s becoming more and more apparent that there is a link between the gut and the brain. What was once suspected as one-way communication (brain to gut) is now understood to be more of a two-way system. Thus, the health of our gut may directly impact the health of our minds.